Tjerk Nieuwenhuis was a Mennonite theologian. He was born 5 November 1708 in Harlingen, the son of Feddrik Tjerks and Geertje Everts Oosterbaan, and he died 9 August 1759 in Amsterdam. He married Eva van Maurik, and he was the first professor at the seminary founded by the Lam en Toren Mennonite congregation in Amsterdam. Having specialized in philology and philosophy at the University of Franeker, he went to Amsterdam in 1731 to attend the lectures of Professor Cattenburgh at the Remonstrant seminary. During an illness of Professor Clericus he was asked to lecture on logic.

The Mennonite church council saw in Nieuwenhuis the man they needed to fill the position of professor at the seminary. Nieuwenhuis accepted the invitation and completed his doctorate at Franeker. Then he made a journey to England and France to meet men of learning and visit libraries, and on 28 November 1735 he assumed his duties and delivered his first lecture on the subject, "The Benefits of Philosophy and the Excellence of Revealed Religion." This address and all his lectures were given in Latin. He lectured on both theology and philosophy. His position is revealed by the title of his initial address, namely, that philosophy—he means especially that of John Locke—is of great importance but is inadequate compared with revealed religion, viz., Christianity. Nieuwenhuis left no writings. Pastor K. de Vries of Amsterdam published a funeral sermon in his honor, Lijkrede over het afsterven van T. Nieuwenhuis (Amsterdam, 1759).